Concrete-form clamp



July 23, 1929. F. N. BIERCSE 1,721,542

CONCRETE FORM CLAMP Filed Oct, 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l A www W l, //l

f INVENTOR.

El" N. ierce ATTORNEY.

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July 23, 1929. F. N. BIERCE CONCRETE FORM CLAMP 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed oct. 25, 1927 INVENToR. Wifed N-B1erce ATTORNEY.

Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES FRED N. BIERCE, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CONCRETE-FORM CLAMP.

Application filed October 25, 1927. Serial No. 228,645.

My invention relates to concreteV form clamps and more particularly te clamps for squaring or truing up forms made of separable sides, such as are usually employed in concrete construction Work.

The objects of my invention are to provide a clamp of the above-referred to chai'- acter which will be simple, efficient, economical to manufacture and Which will square such forms as accurately as required for concrete construction Work, and hold same in this position until the concrete has become suiciently set to allow the removing of such clamps and forms.

Another object of my invention is to provide a concrete form clamp capable of squari ing all four corners of the form With only one set of clamps.

My invention consists in the construction, combination, location and arrangement of parts, as herein set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric vienv of a form used in concrete Work being squared by my improved clamp;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on a line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on a line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on a line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sect-ion taken on a lin-e 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6. is a fragmentary isometric view at approximately the front center of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an isometric view, enlarged, of one of the blocks partly broken away and partly shown in vertical section;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary isometric view of one of the link connections; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated and which shows a preferred construction I provide a clamp for squaring concreteforms comprising flat metal bars 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, all of which are alike, and arranged in pairs, bars 1 and 2 forming one pair and bars 3 and 4 forming another or second pair. The pair of bars 1 and 2 are pivotally connected in a horizontal plane with each other and in spaced apart relation by double or spaced apart links 5 and rivets 6. The pair of bars 3 and 4 are pivotally connected in a horizontal plane with each other and in spaced apart relation by links 7 and rivets 8.

Each of the bars 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, is provided with a plurality of Wedge receiving apertures 9 near their free ends, as shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of receiving' one of the plurality of tapered Wedges 19.

A metal stamping or block 11 is slidably mounted on the free end of bar 1 and is provided With a plurality of Wedge receiving apertures 12 spaced apart from each other and adapted to aline with apertures 9 of bars 1 and 3, respectively. Said block 11 is retained upon bar 1 by a limit lug 13, preferably formed integral with the end 1n of said bar 1. A block 14 similar to block 11 is slidably mounted on the free end of bar 4 and is also provided with a plurality of Wedge receiving apertures 12 spaced apart from each other and adapted to align with apertures 9 of bars 2 and 4, respectively. Said block 14 is retained upon bar 4 by a limit lug 16 preferably formed integral with said bar 4 and near the end 4a thereof,

The Wedge receiving apertures 12 in blocks 11 and 14, respectively, are spaced apart as Before stat-ed, but at distances which are different from the spaces between the Wedge receiving apertures 9 in the bars 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, with the result that in that position of the -blocks upon the bars there is always one combination of tivo apertures 9 and 12 through which the operator can insert a Wedge 10 and on driving the Wedge down, secure immediate movement of the block 11 or 14, as the case may be, with reference to the bars 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The apertures just referred to are also so arranged that on inserting a Wedge in one pair of apertures and driving it down a short distance, the next adjacent pair of' apertures 9-12 can be brought into sutlicient registry so that another Wedge 10 can be inserted and put into act-ion after which the first inserted Wedge can be removed. In this way the clamps are adjusted unt-il the column has been properly squared and clamped.

The blocks 11 and 14 are preferably made of Z-shaped metal pieces 17 and 18 secured together by rivets 15 and so arranged as to have bar receiving channels 19 and 20 at right angles to each other at all times, as shown in Fig. 7. Formed integral with metal piece 17 (of block 11-14) is an extension or flange 21 for the purpose of closing channel 20.

To keep the Wedges 10 from being lost or separated from blocks 11-14 I prefer to anchor' them to said blocks, as by chains 22 which chains are fastened to said blocks by the rivets l5.

Attention is called to the construction of links 5 and 7. As shown in Fig. 8, the inner edges 23 of said links form a iixed rightangle which is important when squaring the form 24 (Fig. l), as will be explained hereinafter.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

Assume that the form 24 (shown in Fig. l) is to be squared, previous to the pouring oi' the cement or concrete therein. The pair of bars l and 2 and the cooperating pair of bars 3 and 4 are arranged around the forni, the 'free end of bar 2 being received by channel 19 of block 14 and the free end ot bar 3 being` received by channel 19 of block 11, as clearly shown in Fig. l. rlhe next step towards squaring the lorm is to apply the wedges 10 and manipulate them as indicated in connection with the block lil-14 at opposite corners, as shown in Fig. l. Until the bars l, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, are brought into contact with the outer faces oi form 24, the operat'or manipulates the wedges l() on bars 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 as he sees is necessary in order to accomplish the desired result of squaring the form 24 and securely clamping it in squared position.

An advantage of this invention over prior devices is that the blocks lll4 are so constructed and arranged as to hold the bars l and 2, and also 3 and 4, respectively, at right angles to each lother at all times and thereby insure the perfect squaring of form 24. Another advantage of this device is the construction of links 5 and 7,1i. e. the inner edges 23 forming a fixed right angle helps to readily square the form and,`in tact, insures the squaring of the form when the bars have been wedged to position around the column.

An advantage of my invention is the provision of a visible square on each of the tour corners of the assembled clamp which enables the workmen to see, by the position of the square upon the column, when it is properly squared.

Another advantage of my invention over prior structures for this purpose is that each end of each bar is confined and held from curving upwardly and outwardly along its inner longitudinal edge. In other words, both ends ot each bar are confined and held within deiinite limits, so that there is no opportunity for the bar between its ends to twist upwardly and outwardly out of shape.

Still another advantage of my invention is that each pair of bars may be folded together in parallel relation and wired through the adjacent apertures :tor convenience in storage and shipping.

It will be understood that certain changes and modifications of the invention can be made without departing from the scope or spirit thereof as defined in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In concrete form clamps, angular links, apertured bars pivot-ally connected thereto and means for adjustably and detachabiy clamping the free end of each bar.

2. In concrete form clamps, a pair of spaced apart angle links, a pair of bars pivoted thereto and means for detachably connecting said bars in assembled relation with a similar pair ot' cooperating bars.

3. In concrete form clamps, a. pair oi angle links, a pair of bars pivotally connected to each link, and means for adjusting and holding the free end of each bar of each pair with a corresponding cooperating bar of the other pair.

FRED N. BIERGE. 

